In the Human Diet about one third of our calories should come from protein. Children and young (still growing) adults, as well as adults with special nutritional needs (such as endurance athletes), may require even a little more protein for growth and the formation and restoration of healthy muscles, joints, bones and connective tissues. If you are eating animal-based protein, the thing you most want to consider is this: How healthy was the animal whose proteins you are eating? Pasture raised, organic animals and animal products are healthy sources of protein to which we are well-adapted. However, commercially raised animals are routinely confined in small spaces where they are made to suffer. This causes their bodies to produce high amounts of stress hormones. They are also fed a high carbohydrate diet (corn and grains) to make them big and fat. What’s more, this feed is routinely laced with hormones to make them even bigger and with antibiotics to keep infectious diseases at bay. Such animals are not particularly healthy and their flesh, fat, and milk reflect this. If you eat meat, eggs, or dairy, it is important to choose healthy animals.